Messier Objects

M91: Barred Spiral Galaxy (Virgo) RA: 12h 35.4m / DEC: +14° 29'.8
Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder

M91 resides 50' east of M88 and about 3 degrees northeast of M84 and M86. M91 is classified as an SBb galaxy with a central bar and moderately tight spiral arms. The 10-inch reveals a 2'.8x1'.7 oval. A stellar core is centered within a bright bar running east-northeast to west-southwest. The bar is perhaps 15" thick away from the core but widens to a 30" diameter around the core. Two spiral arms are easily discerned at each end of the bar. One arm curves northward from the western tip. The second arcs southward from the eastern tip. A 10th magnitude star shines 7' west of M91.

Click on the button to see a map of the Virgo cluster.


Virgo Cluster

M90 M92

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Revised: February 15, 2002 [WDF]